“You didn’t answer my question,” I said, gnawing on my bottom lip. He grabbed my hand, squeezing it tightly.
“It’s insanely reckless. We’re going out in the open, preparing to fight off who knows how many officials, grunts, and maybe even elites. Every second we’re there is one we’re putting ourselves at unnecessary risk. But…” he trailed off, nudging my arm.
“But we’re freeing the eadi there. At least somewhat,” I finished.
“The only problem will be maintaining their control over the village. It won’t be long before more officials come. But it gives them time. A reprieve to group and ready themselves.”
“What if killing the officials makes their punishment worse?” I asked, my heart hammering in my chest.
“They’ll be hanged, raped, starved, and abused regardless. Maybe they only need someone to believe in them enough to do this.”
“Or maybe we’re sentencing them to a worse death.”
“We won’t know. All we can do is decide if it’s worth the risk.” His voice was soft, his thumb rubbing circles on the back of my hand, the ring he wore on that finger cold against my skin.
Was it worth the risk? Were we doing more harm than good?
“What if we don’t stop here? What if we use this as an example for Commander Maitoza of what we can do if we take an offensive approach?” I asked, turning to face him. He looked down at me with a scrunched face, as if the mere idea of wanting something from the commander disgusted him. “We don’t have to like what she believes, but we can use her to fight. To make a difference.”
After a moment, he nodded. “Yeah, that’s a good idea. This could be a success story if we spin it into one. I’m sure she’ll be livid when she realizes what we’re doing, but maybe it’s the push she needs.”
I grabbed his other hand, daring to smile. “Or maybe it will be what the rebels need to see. The civilians too. A single pebble makes a ripple in the ocean, right? Sometimes one person’s bravery is enough to stifle the fear in others.”
“Who are you and what have you done with my negative Nova?” he teased, using my knuckles to tap my nose. I pinched my lips, looking up at him beneath my lashes.
“Ha ha.”
“Seriously, I like it. I’m just surprised by your optimism. Aren’t we normally a glass half empty pair?”
“Maybe that’s our problem.”
“Maybe,” he agreed, leaning down and kissing me. I grinned into the kiss, laughing when he bit my bottom lip.
“Okay, love birds, let’s focus please!” Cal yelled from across the room. I turned, flashing him my middle finger and winking.
Az brought his lips to my ear, whispering, “Let’s go change the world then.”
Shoving him away playfully, I walked towards the group, picking up a sign that saidfight for true justice or die for false peace.“Caleb, did you make this one?”
“I made all of them,” Caleb said, pressing his hands into his hips as he stared down at the sign.
“When I was little, my dad read me a story about an eadi princess. There’s a line in it that says something like, people think justice is subjective because we all selfishly want our own outcomes, but the reality is that justice is objectively the fair and ethical treatment of all.”
“That’s hard for a lot of people to accept,” Zura said. “My grandmother hated my father. She said he was a waste of time and energy. That he was a disgrace to our family. But she loved us. She’d call that justice. Loving us despite what we were. What weare.People want to think they’re the hero of their story.”
“Yeah, our parents are all like that. They justify everything they do by saying it’s for the greater good—for the stars’ entertainment—but what they’re really doing is hoarding power and wealth,” Cal said, still staring at the sign.
“They hoard magic too,” I muttered.
He finally looked up, his bright blue eyes locking on mine. “Not without the cathedral.”
“Until they build a new one.”
“Maybe by then the stars will have decided we’re not worth it anymore,” Zura said.
Quinn lifted his head, his face stiff and emotionless. “Or maybe someone new and more entertaining will be in power.”
“This is depressing. Let’s just go to the protest, kill the ugly, pathetic fucking officials, and come back.” Priya’s voice was commanding and sharp, immediately snapping us all out of our funk.
